The Art of Courtly Love

Little is known about Andreas, whose name translates to Andrew the Chaplain. He was likely French, and his name appears as a witness for seven charters dating to 1182 and 1186, one of which Marie de Champagne granted. This indicates that Andreas knew her but does not confirm whether, as he claims in The Art of Courtly Love, he served as chaplain to her court. It is believed that he wrote the book at Marie’s request.

The image of Andreas presented in the book suggests that he was a clergyman concerned with elevating their status and praising their higher calling. In the dialogues of the first book, he identifies clergy as the most noble class, though he admits that this does not impact their status in courtly games of love. In the repudiation of love of the third book, Andreas emphasizes that love can be fickle and unfair, and men who devote themselves to pursuing romantic and sexual love cause themselves torment in life and after death. In contrast, devotion to God leads to being honored by men and rewarded by God.